1 Peter 4 - Gifts from God

“(10) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Each of us has a gift given by God to use for His service. When I say each of us, I mean EACH and EVERY ONE of us has a gift. It might be gifts that we consider “traditional”, like preaching, counseling, teaching, music, singing, which is what most people think of when they think of helping the church. However, there are a multitude of other tasks necessary for a church to function and plenty of places to use God-given gifts and talents for His service and glory! As verse 10 says above “various forms”, from clean up to cooking, from hospitality to nursery care, from carpentry to repair, from finance/business to marketing, from play activities to sports, there are many, many areas, talents and gifts that we as Christians can use help others, support and serve each other, and further the Kingdom of God, all for His glory, and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ our Savior!

I encourage you to assess your gifts from God, however large or small you might think they are, and pray for guidance on how to use them for God’s service. Look around at your church, community, workplace, school, home, etc. and see how you can help, not for your glory and praise, but God’s, so that others can see God’s mercy and greatness through you! God gave these gifts to us, the least we can do is use them to give something back. Amen?